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Author
Topic: Employer Insurance, ObamaCare and HIV (Read 1026 times)

I am curious about the effect ObamaCare has on HIV+ people getting on Smaller Employer Health Plans. I know that previously, the cost increase to the Smaller Employer was a red flag and then HR would be "Notified" by the insurance company (or glance at the application as they were the person entering the info), and the HIV+ person would be terminated for some obscure reason. I know, I know, I know, this is "Against the Law" and "Not how it Happens" and "Any decent company, would Never do that" but this is the real world. It happens all the time. I am curious if ObamaCare has changed that at all. I am looking currently, and luckily I have my own insurance, but I am curious about the effects may be. I guess we may not know the real answer until the Employer Mandate is in effect.

Logged

"The secret to flying is falling and missing the ground" Douglas Adams

I'm not with a small business buti have insurance through a large retail chain. United Healthcare to be specific. I can only afford the basic plan due to my income. The company funds 200 into a spending account to help with copays but I'll be interested to see how far that goes with one appointment of lab work and follow up. Luckily I think Ryan White will cover anything I can't pay, but they are a payer of last resort. I'm sure one appointment will eat up my whole 200. This means that I'm basically paying 80 bucks a month and still not able to afford to see a doctor for any other reason outside of my HIV treatment.

You cannot be denied for a pre-existing. Not for health insurance. If it were me and I was denied, I would pursue filing a claim.

Betty -- I think the OP was saying he was denied insurance -- rather he is concerned that if an employer finds out he/she is a "high cost" insured, they will find a reason to terminate him from his job.

I'm not sure how an employer would find this info. I would guess that it might be easy with a very small employer to guess a new employee is behind a large increase in costs, but I still think it is a little far-fetched and not something that I would personally spend a lot of time worrying about.

Betty -- I think the OP was saying he was denied insurance -- rather he is concerned that if an employer finds out he/she is a "high cost" insured, they will find a reason to terminate him from his job.

I'm not sure how an employer would find this info. I would guess that it might be easy with a very small employer to guess a new employee is behind a large increase in costs, but I still think it is a little far-fetched and not something that I would personally spend a lot of time worrying about.